Amongst the scores of star sons and daughters in Bollywood, one prominent name is Zayed Khan. Although he got spotted right in his first film Main Hoon Na, the actor is still struggling to make a mark in the industry.
His latest film was Speed thanks to which Zayed had to stay away from the camera for a good six months.

Excerpts from an interview:

You injured your back quite seriously during an action sequence in the film Speed. How are you now?

I am much better, thanks to the prayers of my well-wishers. Vikram had explained each and every scene of the film to me in detail. In fact, that’s the reason I signed the film. I knew exactly what I had to do. As for accidents, they just happen. My only grievance is that the accident forced me to stay away from the camera and take bed rest for some six months.

Tell us about how the accident happened.

The action scene involved nine other men. I had to climb up with the help of a rope. Unfortunately, the rope couldn’t bear my weight and tore off; I landed right on a chair, while the other men fell on my back. However, this accident has made this film memorable for me. I have noticed that the films which get delayed often do well at the box-office. I have similar hopes of this film.

The reason behind signing so few films over these years:

I am quite choosy about my films now. As in, I don’t want to spend 60 to 70 days on the sets of a film that I don’t like. I want to work in films that I am excited about. Of course, a newcomer must do many films as that’s how he/she will gain experience. But that doesn’t apply to me anymore. When I was a fresher, I did many films as it was the only way to improve my acting skills.

You are mostly seen in thrillers and action films. Why don’t you try your hand at romantic films?

Frankly speaking, I want to do romantic films, but unfortunately good scripts are not coming my way. I wish to do a romantic film with good co-stars, producers and directors. The thing is, thriller films are easily accepted by the audience as compared to romantic ones. There is much for the cine-goers to look forward to in thrillers. But love stories can either be good or bad, there are no average love stories. A romantic film will go waste despite a good director, producer and actors, if not projected properly.

Would you like to play a historical character like Akbar that your brother-in-law Hrithik is playing in Jodha-Akbar?

Why not? God willing, I certainly will. Hrithik is a very hardworking guy, and a perfectionist at that. I respect him for that. Right now, I want to work with good directors to understand and learn more about cinema. I have told Subhash Ghai that whether he loves me or hates me, all I want him to do is improve my acting skills.

Your experience working with Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif in Mai Yuvraj:

It was good. Many say Salman is moody. But there is nothing like that. Those who spread rumours against him either don’t know him or don’t mean him well.

Tell us about your films- Idiot, Happy New Year and Bisaat.

It’s been ages since Idiot was called off. As of now, I am not doing Bisaat, but I am doing another film with Vasuji. As for Happy New Year, I will go whenever Farah calls me.

And your forthcoming films...

As of now, I am doing Mission Istanbul with Aporva Lakhia and Mai Yuvaraj with Subhash Ghai. I am quite excited about Mission Istanbul. The story is set in New York, where a man forms a gang with his friends and goes about terrorising them.

Sampurn